Unfortunatly there is no way to prevent from getting Cystic Fibrosis. Checking family members of a cystic fibrosis patient may detect the cystic fibrosis gene in between 60 and 90% of the people of have it, depending on the test used.
Even though currently, there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Research is being done to find a cure for the lung disease. This is expected to be done through gene therapy.
Most of the symptoms can be treated though with drugs or natural supplements. Catching the disease early on and treating is as soon as possible has been shown to dramatically increase the life span of patients with Cystic Fibrosis. A few decades ago, children with CF have usually died by the age of 2, whereas now people with CF live past the age of 31.
Ways to control the symptoms:
By providing supplements which contain enzymes to help with digestion would enhance nutrition.
By frequent use of physiotherapy and/or antibiotics to reduce and ease chest infections.
Diet high in calories, protein and fat.
Vigorous physical therapy on a daily basis to loosen mucus secretion accumulated in the lungs.
Antibiotics to cure lung infections.
Ensure that there is a regulated amount of airflow into the lungs.
Physiotherapy: This treatment is one which is a series of intense daily massages. It helps to loosen the muscus in the lungs. These massages can be taught to parents from a hospital or people who are old enough can learn how to do these massages themselves.
Postural Draining- Used to help clear mucus from the lungs by altering the patients position.
Chest Percussion- Tapping on the chest and back.
OPEP (Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure) Devices- Used by exhaling into the devices. Creates vibrations in the air which loosen the mucus attached to the lungs and throat.
Oxygen & Transplant: In severe cases, the production of mucus makes physiotherapy, nutrition and exercise impossible or will take up too much of time of the patients life. In these cases, it's recommended that the patient be placed on an oxygen machine. If this doesn't work, the last option is to be placed on a lung transplant waiting list. This does not cure CF, although it will help to greatly relieve the symptoms.
Corticosteroids and Ibuprofen: CF Patients experience numerous lung infections which can lead to chronic inflammation of the lung tissue. Over time, damage can occur which can lead to the loss of lung functions. These drugs will help to lessen the severity and frequency of the infections which will help to decrease the overall lung inflammation.
Mucolytic Drugs: This class of drugs is solely used to thin the mucus that is created by CF patients. The mucus can prevent antibiotics from reaching the infection site and the bacteria that cause these infections flourish in the mucus. A drug called DNase (Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease or dornase alfa) works to thin mucus by destroying the genetic material contained in the secretions which therefore decreases the viscosity of the secretions.
Drug classes Used to treat Cystic Fibrosis: Aminoglycosides
Carbapenems
Cephalosporins
Digestive Enzymes
Inhaled Beta-2 Agonists
Monobactams
Mukolyics
Penicillins
Potassium-sparing Diuretics
Quinolones
Vancomycin
With the growing number of people who have Cystic Fibrosis comes more and more help organizations. One of these programs is called the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
This foundation, helps find the cure to this disease, the link to this site is: http://www.cff.org/
Treatment
Unfortunatly there is no way to prevent from getting Cystic Fibrosis. Checking family members of a cystic fibrosis patient may detect the cystic fibrosis gene in between 60 and 90% of the people of have it, depending on the test used.
Even though currently, there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Research is being done to find a cure for the lung disease. This is expected to be done through gene therapy.
Most of the symptoms can be treated though with drugs or natural supplements. Catching the disease early on and treating is as soon as possible has been shown to dramatically increase the life span of patients with Cystic Fibrosis. A few decades ago, children with CF have usually died by the age of 2, whereas now people with CF live past the age of 31.
Ways to control the symptoms:
Physiotherapy: This treatment is one which is a series of intense daily massages. It helps to loosen the muscus in the lungs. These massages can be taught to parents from a hospital or people who are old enough can learn how to do these massages themselves.
Oxygen & Transplant: In severe cases, the production of mucus makes physiotherapy, nutrition and exercise impossible or will take up too much of time of the patients life. In these cases, it's recommended that the patient be placed on an oxygen machine. If this doesn't work, the last option is to be placed on a lung transplant waiting list. This does not cure CF, although it will help to greatly relieve the symptoms.
Corticosteroids and Ibuprofen: CF Patients experience numerous lung infections which can lead to chronic inflammation of the lung tissue. Over time, damage can occur which can lead to the loss of lung functions. These drugs will help to lessen the severity and frequency of the infections which will help to decrease the overall lung inflammation.
Mucolytic Drugs: This class of drugs is solely used to thin the mucus that is created by CF patients. The mucus can prevent antibiotics from reaching the infection site and the bacteria that cause these infections flourish in the mucus. A drug called DNase (Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease or dornase alfa) works to thin mucus by destroying the genetic material contained in the secretions which therefore decreases the viscosity of the secretions.
Drug classes Used to treat Cystic Fibrosis:
Aminoglycosides
Carbapenems
Cephalosporins
Digestive Enzymes
Inhaled Beta-2 Agonists
Monobactams
Mukolyics
Penicillins
Potassium-sparing Diuretics
Quinolones
Vancomycin
With the growing number of people who have Cystic Fibrosis comes more and more help organizations. One of these programs is called the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
This foundation, helps find the cure to this disease, the link to this site is:
http://www.cff.org/
Sources
Cystic Fibrosis Treatments
Drug Digest- Cystic Fibrosis- Treatment Options
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